Module: Finance & Corporate Governance

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Finance & Corporate Governance
Module Code	ACC1027 (ITS: AC582)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

The objective of this module is to provide participants with the knowledge of conceptual skills, theoretical frameworks and practical tools to be able to address responsibly and effectively ethical challenges in organisations, with particular reference to issues pertaining to finance. It addresses both the importance of ethical norms and ethical behaviour by individuals operating in organisations, and the role of institutional regulation to prevent unethical behaviour. This module reviews corporate governance structures and discusses both the legal and ethical duties of Board members. It examines key requirements for effective corporate governance and the issues that may hinder this. It also examines a Board’s duty toward the company’s stakeholders and how different approaches to governance will guide this. The module also reviews recent financial and corporate governance failures to determine the key issues involved and the influences that motivated poor decision making.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the requirement for corporate responsibility and the need for ethics within organisations.
2. Critically examine the financial operations of organisations.
3. Evaluate and compare the guiding governance principles and regulatory frameworks.
4. Critical analyse the role, legal obligations and ethical responsibilities of key players in corporate governance.
5. Discuss the challenges that arise with creating shareholder value and protecting the interests of stakeholders.
6. Appraise recent financial and corporate governance failures and identify factors that influenced decision making.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Weekly Lectures
Class Presentation	40	Independent preparation for class presentation (minor assignment)
Assignment Completion	80	Independent preparation for major assignment
Independent Study	106	Independent learning
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	10056	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Brid Murphy	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	Critical assessment of ethical and corporate governance issues - choice of essay title	80%	Sem 1 End
Presentation	Prepare and present on an ethical / corporate governance failure(s) within a selected entity	20%	Week 7

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

The need for ethics in organisations
Agency, accountability and social responsibility

The financial system
Overview of the (Irish) financial system

The Irish financial crisis
Analysis of the recent financial crisis - Irish perspective Regulation and the Irish financial system

Financial Management and Corporate Finance
Corporate objectives and shareholder wealth maximisation; Risk management; Financial reporting

Introduction to Corporate Governance
The building blocks of Corporate Governance; Board reporting relevant to Corporate Governance; The role of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement; Corporate Governance and the Irish Banks; Corporate Governance frameworks: US v UK

Stakeholder Accountability
Key challenges for boards; Evaluating board performance; Institutional investors and shareholder activism; Stakeholder accountability and global corporations

The Not-for Profit Sector
Analysis of the Not-for Profit sector in Ireland and relevant corporate governance framework

The future of Corporate Governance
Current debates surrounding corporate governance

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Boatright, J.R.: 0, Ethics in Finance, John Wiley & Sons Ltd,
Boatright, J. R.: 0, Finance Ethics: Critical Issues in Theory and Practice, Wiley-Blackwell,
Hendry, J.: 0, Ethics and Finance, Polity Press, Cambridge,
Crane, A. Matten, D. & Moon, J.: 0, Corporations and Citizenship, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
Duffy, D.: 0, A Practical Guide to Corporate Governance, Chartered Accountants Ireland, Dublin.,
Monks, R.: 0, Corporate Governance, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, UK,
Solomon, J. & Solomon, A.: 0, Corporate Governance and Accountability, 4th, John Wiley & Sons Ltd,,
Killian, S.: 0, Corporate Social Responsibility A Guide, with Irish Experiences, Chartered Accountants Ireland, Dublin,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None